De'Longhi Eletta Explore — Super-Automatic Espresso Machine with Cold Brew

I'd been using a Nespresso since 2020. It was convenient, but the pod costs add up — and I wanted to support local roasters and actually dial in my own beans. I also wanted real crema and the option for different milk drinks without learning how to froth properly for each one. The Eletta Explore handles all of that. Bean to cup, one button, done — espresso, cold brew, lattes, whatever I'm in the mood for.

I'll be honest — the bypass chute for decaf isn't perfect. If you're switching between regular and decaf beans, there's some additional cleaning needed. But for everyday single-bean use, this machine is a workhorse.

It's not cheap. But when I stopped doing drive-throughs, ditched the pod costs, and started pulling my own shots with beans from local roasters every morning, the math made sense pretty fast.